By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

May 4, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Kansas City’s 3rd District at-large City Councilman Quinton Lucas joins the Northeast Newscast this week for a far-reaching discussion about the Kansas City political scene. Topics of conversation include the Council’s role (or lack thereof) in the search for a new KCPD Chief of Police, the ongoing issues with gun violence in Kansas City, City Manager Troy Schulte’s initial list of projects for the first $40 million in G.O. Bond funding, the latest buzz surrounding the proposed Prospect MAX bus line, Kansas City’s role in the renovation or replacement of the Buck O’Neil Bridge, the ongoing expansion efforts of Kansas City University, the recent performance audit of the Independence Avenue CID, and finally, Lucas discusses his future political aspirations.

Below is a brief transcript from the conversation:

Thompson: Monday, the Board of Police Commissioners announced that Ralph Andersen & Associates would be conducting a national search for KCPD’s next Chief of Police. So I wanted to ask you – how clued in has the Council been during this process?

Lucas: I think it’s fair to say the Council hasn’t really been that clued in on the process – we haven’t been consulted necessarily. We’ve tried to address that, I know Councilwoman Loar had set up a meeting with the Council and the Board of Police Commissioners a few months ago. That was a good first step; frankly I think we should do that again.

We spend a lot of time on the Council level at neighborhood meetings listening to people who talk about violent crime, listening to people who talk about the need for more patrol officers on the streets, how we deploy our patrol officers, and I think it would be important for us to share that. I know the Board of Police Commissioners is planning to have, I think, three community meetings, and while that’s good, your average Councilperson has a community meeting every day.

Thompson: Right.

Lucas: And so I think it would be nice, at least if they’re interested in more public input – they being the Board of Police Commissioners – for them to have a chance to sit down and talk with the Council. We’ll make the time, we’ll go over to Police headquarters and do it any time. But right now I don’t think, other than us kind of giving some opinions to the press and others, we haven’t been consulted. I understand the structure, but I think that we can do better in making sure that everybody who was elected to represent citizens has a voice in the future of the police department.

Thompson: Obviously you made time for the Northeast Newscast; I’m sure you can make time for the Board of Police Commissioners for a topic like that.

Lucas: That’s absolutely right. If they call, I’ll clear my calendar tomorrow to talk about the next Chief.

For the full podcast featuring 3rd District Councilman Quinton Lucas, check out the link below or subscribe to the Northeast Newscast on iTunes.